Iranian Genealogy

  • Featured Resource: Etemad al-Saltaneh’s Almanacs

    If any of your ancestors served in the royal court, royal household, government, or military during the reigns of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (r. 1848-1896) or Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar (r. 1896-1907), then you might find them listed in one of Etemad al-Saltaneh’s (اعتمادالسلطنه) government almanacs (سالنامه). This is the only online location to have…

  • Featured Resource: Genetic Genealogy Assistance for Iranians

    With the lack of accessible records, DNA is an important tool in Iranian genealogy. Thankfully, there is now a genetic genealogist specifically offering her services to those of Iranian descent free of charge: Aurora Molitoris. Aurora has a graduate certificate in forensic genetic genealogy from the University of New Haven and continues to receive genealogy…

  • Iranian Family Heraldry

    Iran has a history of family heraldry, but it is not a continuous one. A Eurasian tradition of clan symbols existed in Iran until the Islamic Conquest. The personal use of stamp seals continued from ancient times, which eventually became intertwined with the Ottoman tughra. It was not until Iran’s modern interactions with European powers…

  • The Iranian Record Problem

    At some point, those interested in Iranian genealogy have all probably grumbled the same complaint: THERE AREN’T ANY RECORDS! While that is an exaggeration, it is true that getting your hands on Iranian records is difficult. Why is this the case, and how do we solve it? This blog post explores the causes and solutions…

  • Welcome to Iranian Genealogy!

    Welcome to the first website devoted to Iranian genealogy! What is this website? This website is an attempt to centralize the sources of information scattered around the internet and to provide guidance for those interested in researching Iranian genealogy. Its goals are to educate, facilitate research, and support and create new genealogy resources through its…